In what's being hailed as an NHL first, a gay couple's sweet smooch is making the blogosphere rounds after being captured for Kiss Cam posterity.
Brad Parr and Andy Evans told Outsports they'd been hoping to be featured on the Kiss Cam for some time, and their wish finally came true Jan. 7 when they were attending a match between the Los Angeles Kings and the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The couple's sweet-natured lip-lock drew cheers and applause from the crowd, which is an empowering sign of the times given that Kiss Cams at other sporting events have arguably had less-than-inclusive intentions.
Although Parr is originally from Toronto, he's called Los Angeles home for the past 17 years and therefore couldn't have been more thrilled for the Kings' 2-1 victory over the Maple Leafs. The Kiss Cam surprise, he told Outsports, made it a "particularly sweet night."
In 2015, the Los Angeles Dodgers featured a gay couple on their Kiss Cam. Two men also puckered up for a San Francisco Giants game in 2011, but theirs was broadcast during a special LGBT Night at AT&T Park.
While Parr and Evans' kiss may have been an NHL first, we certainly hope it's not the last!
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Justin Verlander
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Sean Avery
Retired New York Ranger Sean Avery caused a splash last year when he became, what’s believed, the first pro athlete to voice support for gay marriage in New York. Since then, Avery teamed up with fellow ally, Hudson Taylor, joining in Athlete Ally’s message of combating homophobia in sports.
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Henrik Lundqvist
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David Pocock
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Michael Irvin
Michael Irvin, former Dallas Cowboy and NFL Hall of Famer, appeared on Out magazine’s cover last July. Irvin spoke out for LGBT rights and marriage equality, citing his late gay brother’s passing. He also said he would support any athlete in the NFL, NBA, NHL or MLB who comes out.
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Donte Stallworth
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Charles Barkley
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Claude Giroux
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Steve Nash
When Phoenix Suns president and CEO Rick Welts came out to NBA all-star Steve Nash, he said he’d support Welts. Soon after, Nash made a video for HRC’s New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign, saying he’s proud to be a part of a growing group of athletes speaking out for gay marriage.
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Rick Fox
Although he hasn’t explicitly said anything about gay rights, retired three-time NBA champion Rick Fox, appeared as a guest judge on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season four. Plus, his former ex, Vanessa Williams (gay icon, at least to Raja, Drag Race season three winner) was also on the show the season before. If this isn’t a sign of LGBT support, what is?
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John Salley
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Manu Ginobili
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Ben Cohen
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Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan, retired New York Giant and new co-host of “LIVE! with Kelly and Michael,” made a video for HRC’s New Yorkers for Marriage campaign. He said, “I feel it's unfair to keep committed couples from being married."
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Popular soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo said, “We must respect the choices made by anyone, because, after all, all citizens should have the exact same rights and responsibilities,” when asked about the passage of gay marriage in his home country of Portugal in 2010.
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Jesse Ventura
The sports-entertainment world of wrestling has had its fair share of homophobic culture in the news. Though there have been anti-gay remarks made by John Cena, CM Punk and Michael Cole, Jesse Ventura, former Minnesota governor and wrestler, has lent his support for gay marriage. Ventura, who appears alongside his wife, Terry, in a video for "Minnesotans United for All Families," an initiative asking voters to say no to a 2012 constitutional amendment that says marriage is between a man and a woman. Ventura said, "Government should not be telling people who to fall in love with."
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Grant Hill And Jared Dudley
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The San Francisco 49ers became the first NFL team to make a video for the "It Gets Better Project," in August. Other sports teams who have made videos include L.A. Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and the San Francisco Giants.
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